For more than 40 years, Minnesota-Uruguay Partners of the Americas has promoted friendship, cultural understanding and societal development in Uruguay and Minnesota. Women and men from all walks of life--artists, architects, businesspeople, environmentalists, farmers, foresters, government officials, lawyers, teachers, veterinarians, students--are part of the Minnesota-Uruguay Partners family.

Members and friends of Minnesota-Uruguay Partners came from far and wide December 9 to celebrate a highly productive year for the group.

Many thanks to our gracious hosts, Diane Katsiaficas of the University of Minnesota art department, along with board directors Sarah Trembley, Kati Mae Duesler and Mark Knierim, for arranging the beautiful venue, delicious food, and so many other event details.

Nicolas Carter, a Minnesota-based educator sand musician, traveled to Uruguay last fall through a Partners project to introduce local schools to the successful Neighborhood Bridges program, run by renowned Children's Theater Company.

Nicolas was subsequently awarded a Fulbright Scholarship Grant that enabled him to continue to implement Neighborhood Bridges at Public School 162 and a private junior high school in the economically disadvantaged neighborhood of Montevideo, called Liceo Jubilar.

Nicolas plans to remain in Uruguay through August before returning to Minnesota.